Kinéis and Entente Valabre Deploy an Innovative Space-Based Solution to Support Forest Firefighting Efforts

As part of the France 2030 plan, Kinéis and Entente Valabre have launched an initial experimental phase to address two critical use cases for protecting wildlife, vegetation, and populations: early fire detection and monitoring of water and retardant tanks.

This field trial reflects a shared commitment to testing an innovative solution connected to the French satellite constellation dedicated to IoT.

Two Use Cases Supporting the Fire and Rescue Services (SDIS)

• Detection of Emerging Fires
  • The test is taking place at the Pont du Gard site, a symbolic region in southern France highly exposed to fire risks. A total of 120 Silvanet devices were deployed on July 31 and August 1 across an area of 313 hectares (3.13 km2) to detect carbon dioxide levels, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, as well as record temperature, pressure, and humidity.

• Monitoring of Isolated Tanks

In parallel, additional sensors have been installed to monitor:

• • the water levels in isolated tanks (used for resupply and logistics), and
  • Retardant tanks located at pélicandromes, strategic sites for refilling aerial firefighting resources.

Space Technology Serving Forest Protection

In response to increasingly frequent and intense forest fires, Kinéis offers a concrete solution to environmental and operational challenges with a globally available IoT satellite connectivity service that is 100% French and sovereign.

The forest fire sensors deployed on the ground and connected to the Kinéis constellation transmit instant alerts to civil security services at the very first combustion phase, even in areas without network coverage.

This early detection capability helps protect wildlife, vegetation, and people by limiting the spread of fires and reducing human, material, and financial costs.

Continuous monitoring of water and retardant tanks is also essential to anticipate interventions, optimize resources, and improve the responsiveness of field teams.

Valuable Meteorological Data for Prevention

Beyond fire detection, the deployed sensors play a crucial role in the continuous collection of local weather data. Even in the absence of fire activity, they transmit real-time information on temperature, atmospheric pressure, and especially hydrometry. This data is highly valuable for SDIS teams, as it enables a refined analysis of vegetation sensitivity to fire risk.

By leveraging these indicators, civil security teams can proactively adjust the positioning of preventive intervention units in the field. In the event of a fire, the meteorological data also enhances anticipation capabilities and coordination of firefighting operations by providing critical insight into local conditions.